Scout Programs

Our staff can help your scouts earn their rank achievements and special awards. The Preserves provide the perfect setting for historical, environmental, and plant-related scout badges and patches. Our programs offer unique, hands-on opportunities to experience nature and history in an interactive environment.

If you don't find the exact program you are looking for, please contact us. We may be equipped to offer a specialized program for your group.

We also offer a variety of resources, including loan backpacks, loan kits, self guided trail brochures and more.

Choose one, two, or three electives to design your own 60- or 90-minute program:

Elective 30: Plant a Seed

Elective 31: Learn About Animals

Elective 32: Feed the Birds

Elective 34: Conservation

Elective 47: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Elective 13: Birds: We will learn about native birds and how they are different from other types of animals. Take a hike to search for birds, and help us fill our bird feeders! (60-90 minutes)

Elective 15: Grow Something: Visit the Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve. At the Discovery Garden, we will plant flower and vegetable seeds indoors and outdoors (weather permitting). You can return on your own to see how they have grown! (60-90 minutes)

Elective 19: Fishing: We will learn about native fish, local fishing laws, and the rules of safe fishing. Rig a pole, practice casting, bait a hook, and wait for a bite! Fishing will be catch-and-release only; no fishing licenses are required for children 16 and under. We will provide cane poles. Please provide your own bait. (90 minutes)

Achievement 5: Sharing Your World with Wildlife: Visit our Homer Lake Interpretive Center, and find out what it is like to be an environmental educator. Learn about the animals that share our world and how we can protect them. (60-90 minutes)

Elective 14: Landscaping: Visit the Discovery Garden at Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, and help us care for our flower beds and vegetable gardens.? We will also plant seeds and make miniature greenhouses to take home. (60-90 minutes)

Elective 15: Water and Soil Conservation: We will experiment with different kinds of soil, visit an area of prairie or forest that has undergone a prescribed burn, and explore erosion control. After the program, your group can help clean up our lake as you discuss water pollution. (60-90 minutes)

Forester Activity Badge: Identify native trees and plants at the preserves, and find out why they are an important part of life here on Earth. (90 minutes)

Naturalist Activity Badge: Join us to learn about the different ecosystems that make up our forest preserves. You will examine an aquatic ecosystem up-close! (90 minutes)

Hiking Belt Loop: Discuss the basics of hiking safety, then hit the trails for a guided nature hike. (60-90 minutes)

Fishing Belt Loop: We will learn about native fish, local fishing laws, and the rules of safe fishing. Rig a pole, practice casting, bait a hook, and wait for a bite! Fishing will be catch-and-release only; no fishing licenses are required for children 16 and under. We will provide cane poles. Please provide your own bait. (90 minutes)

Boy Scout Merit Badges
The Museum and Education Department would be happy to assist you in earning the following badges, working with your counselor.

Bird Study: Learn the parts of a bird and how birds are important indicators of environmental quality. We will explore why birds call, and identify different birds by their songs and appearance. Create your own field notebook, practice using a field guide and binoculars, and take a hike to look for native birds. (2-3 hours)

Environmental Science: We will perform experiments to discover how living things respond to changes in their environment and how to reduce the effects of an oil spill. Explore the history of environmental science, learn some ecological terminology, and review an environmental impact statement. Find out what the CCFPD has done locally to protect threatened and endangered species, and discuss related career opportunities. (3-4 hours)

American Heritage: We'll assist you in doing genealogy, finding places on the National Register, or researching an event of historical importance in the area. Find out how your town or neighborhood started or take part in a program about history with the staff of the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District will enhance your Brownies' Journey with programs ($25 for 60-90 minutes) to help them earn their Skill-Building Activity Badges. Free resources are also available-see below!

FREE (groups of 10 scouts or more must contact shampson@ccfpd.org or 217-896-2455 at least two weeks before your visit) Self-Guided Tour

Reservations for all programs and tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. To better serve you, we require that scout leaders provide 1 adult chaperone for every 5 scouts. Nametags are appreciated.

For scout programs that take place outdoors, participants must dress for the weather. Some scout programs are only offered seasonally and at specific locations.

Please note: Participation in these scout programs does not fulfill all requirements for a badge or patch. Scouts will need to complete additional work in their pack or troop. Scout leaders must provide their own badges, patches, pins, belt loops, or awards.